SSC Report to CFMC

1. SSC Report to CFMC 148th CFMC Meeting held December 11-12, 2013 SSC Meeting held November 12-14, 2013

2. Data Review Assessment of ACL Overages PR - Snapper Unit 2 Conch Wrasses STT- Angelfish, Squirrelfish, Wrasses STX - Conch Angelfish, Squirrelfish, Wrasses

3. Combined state and federal commercial average annual landings for Caribbean species or species groups that exceeded their ACLs. The years used for averaging annual landings depend on when amendments defined the ACLs for the specific species or species group. The amount of landings that exceeded each ACL is provided. PR = Puerto Rico, STT/STJ = St. Thomas/St. John, and STX = St. Croix.

5. Conch & Non-Target Fishes Conch ACLs were exceeded, but catch comes from territorial waters. ACLs for non-target fishes in the USVI were exceeded because the species had not been on the catch report forms when ACLs were determined. Thus, all the ACL overages for the USVI were a reporting artifact.

6. Snapper Unit 2 – Puerto Rico • Overage • Catch is variable but shows increasing trend • Reasons • Maybe potential data problems • Recommendations

8. Recommendation According to the November 1, 2013 Update Report of ACL Landings for Caribbean Reef Fishes by NOAA Fisheries Service (SERO-LAPP-2013-01), only the commercial landings for Puerto Rico snapper unit 2 and STX queen conch had the landings exceed their ACLs, and these results were not due to changes in data reporting

9. Recommendation However, in our SSC meeting discussion in November 12, 2013, the SSC determined that it is necessary to carefully examine (via PRDNER) the origin of the snapper unit 2 overage. Discussion among SSC meeting attendees included a number of hypotheses as to why the SU2 ACL was exceeded.  These explanations were focused on a limited number of individuals who have allegedly entered the fishery on a one year commercial ‘test’/new license and have been reporting landings that are an order of magnitude greater than what has been reported previously.  The SSC noted that reliability of reported landings data is a broader issue and not limited to Snapper Unit 2, and that ultimately the determination of the validity of data falls on the shoulders of DNER. 

10. Economic Model for Recommending Dates for ACL ClosuresDr. Kate Quigley • Currently, closures for species units exceeding their ACL occur at the end of the calendar year • This is start of peak tourist season when demand is high • New model to provide information to the Ad Hoc Committee (combined SSC and Advisory Panel) on recommended dates for fisheries closures when ACLs are exceeded.

11. SSC approved of effort and made suggestions: • Enhance visualization of results – graphs of closures by week or month • Address trade off of Days vsProfit • Examine multispecies effects for more than one closure • Look also at biological significant periods (spawning times, CPUE,) when available

12. Review of Studies by STFA • Red hind • Lobster

13. Red Hind ACL Adjustment Red Hind abundance on the Red Hind Bank MCD from Nemeth (2005) and pers. comm. Blue circles represent number of transects. Correlation between Hind Bank census results and annual St. Thomas grouper landings D.A. Olsen, R. Nemeth, J. Nowlis. 2013. Managing St. Thomas Grouper Resources.

14. Possible use of monitoring data to annually varying ACLs D.A. Olsen, R. Nemeth, J. Nowlis. 2013. Managing St. Thomas Grouper Resources.

15. RECCOMENDATION David Olsen and Josh Nowlis, representing the STFA, gave a presentation to the SSC regarding a proposal for management revision. Specifically, the proposal calls for more ‘real time’ management of the red hind fishery in St. Thomas; in particular an annual setting of OFL/ACL which is allowed to vary by year based on an index of red hind population as determined by the annual survey of the red hind spawning aggregation at the Hind Bank MCD in January/February. The SSC recommends that the concept presented be further evaluated during the upcoming SEDAR 35 red hind, and Dr. Nowlis is encouraged to attend.

16. A Collaborative Assessmentof the Virgin Islands Spiny Lobster FisheryOlsen et al. 2013 • Noted that assessment was preliminary • New data were presented • Tagging • Actual trap hauls • Size frequency data (STX) • Noted lobster is scheduled for up coming SEDAR • New data should be incorporated (with QA/QC) • Further assessment of model • Sensitivity analysis • Expanded analysis of tagging data • More rigorous presentation of data and assumptions • Potentially informative

17. SSC Peer Review Process • There is a need to establish guidelines for the preparation and review of “Third Party Assessments” • SAFMC established guidelines as model • SSC did not reach consensus • Differences revolve around degree of “assessment” relative to ACLs and need for management advice • Recognize need for flexibility in data poor situations • Request that SEFSC provide guidance

18. Species without ACLs • Species reported on catch reports/trip tickets, which do not have an ACL • PR: 20-40% of Commercial; 80% Recreational • USVI: 15-20% of Commercial • Review of the catch data available by the SEFSC Tunas, Billfishes, Sharks Mackerels, Dolphinfish, Wahoo, Snook, Octopus, Barracuda, Jacks Baitfishes

19. Puerto Rico

20. St. Croix

21. STT/STJ

22. SSC - Provide Criteria for adding and eliminating species • Potential Criteria • Landings Cultural Importance • Data Availability Ecological Importance • Past Importance Economic Importance • Distribution (EEZ, Terr.) Alt. Management Forums • To be addressed in next SSC meeting • SSC requests that SEFSC be asked for guidance

23. Recognition The SSC expresses its appreciation to out-going Chair, Dr. Barbara Kojis, for her many years of dedicated service to the SSC, the CFMC, and marine resource management in the USVI and US Caribbean and wishes her the best in all future endeavors.